UCO 9Hr candle to Oil burner

[QDanT]

These instructions are for the lanterns that take the 9 hour UCO candles
28mm copper pipe, 28mm end caps, 6mm brass pipe, 6mm wick, Lamp oil, all from any good Ironmongers
or BQ as a last resort and a couple of old pennies if possible

Cut a length of 28mm copper pipe, pipe cutter is best but hacksaw will do, just shorter than candle
Drill a 6mm hole in one end cap cut a short length of 6mm brass pipe tap into hole and solder
If you have some old pennies or other coins solder one on one end of the 28mm tube and you can cut
a coupler in to two or a tee piece into three and solder a penny onto the top and drill a 6mm hole through the penny to make an end cap.If you have
no coins solder a 28mm end cap on the pipe
Clean joints with wire wool and flux them then get the pipe just hot enough to melt the solder
i.e. don't melt the solder with the blow torch.
Thread a piece of wick, fill not quite full with oil and allow to soak
You don't need much wick showing almost flush will do, just experiment for max flame with no smoke

As can be seen in last photo a piece of tube through a coin to fit an old jar or bottle makes a lamp

Tool Tip:- a golf ball makes a great file handle, see first photo

 

[Wayland]

Hmm thats pretty neat.

Fancy making some for sale?

 

[Backyard Bushcraft]

id buy 1 thats genius!!

 

[falling rain]

Sounds good QdanT. I can't see your pictures on this computer (work settings or some malarky) but I can picture what you've described. I'll have a look next time I'm over my sons, and look on his computer. I have a couple of the UCO lanterns and will definately be giving it a go...........nice one
Wayland I'm surpised at you. With your skills I'd have thought you'd have a go at making one yourself

 

[Wayland]

It's a matter of time.

Time to clear the workshop after the flooding and then time to do the job.

It ends up being cheaper to work for the money to pay for the job sometimes.

 

[falling rain]

Fair comment.......... I forgot about your flood. That must have been a nightmare
I'm really interested in having a crack at this myself. I've made oil lamps from old beer cans before and want to have a go at this, although I've got no souldering equipment and never souldered anything before so I'll have to see if I can pick up one from a car booter or somewhere cheap.
I hope all goes well with your clean-up and you get back to normal soon mate.

 

[Mikey P]

Fair comment.......... I forgot about your flood. That must have been a nightmare
I'm really interested in having a crack at this myself. I've made oil lamps from old beer cans before and want to have a go at this, although I've got no souldering equipment and never souldered anything before so I'll have to see if I can pick up one from a car booter or somewhere cheap.
I hope all goes well with your clean-up and you get back to normal soon mate.

At a pinch, you can braize with a jet lighter (I'm guessing that 'braizing' is what QDanT is doing as I can't see the pictures either). As he says, heat the metal - not the solder or you can drive off all of the flux and end up with a poor joint.

 

[Singeblister]

that's very cool I have one of those brass lanterns and the candle has run out , rather than find a new one I might just make one of these , How tight is the fit inside the lantern ?
and where would you get lamp oil from these days ?
I suppose you could use paraffin in it as well ?
have some rep thanks for posting

 

[QDanT]

that's very cool I have one of those brass lanterns and the candle has run out , rather than find a new one I might just make one of these , How tight is the fit inside the lantern ?
and where would you get lamp oil from these days ?
I suppose you could use paraffin in it as well ?
have some rep thanks for posting

Hi Singeblister one of the reasons I had the idea was that on measuring the UCO candles they were 28mm so it's the same fit.All the local ironmongers sell lamp oil the last bottle was Bartoline who also do white spirit,brush cleaner etc and garden centres have it for the outdoor bamboo torches
cheers Danny

 

[QDanT]

It's a matter of time.

Time to clear the workshop after the flooding and then time to do the job.

It ends up being cheaper to work for the money to pay for the job sometimes.

Hi Wayland if you pm me your address I'll send you the unlit one in the photos.
1967 penny base, 28mm top cap
Price is a donation to Magikellys Karons marathon at :-
http://www.justgiving.com/runningforTeenageCancerTrust
I don't need confirmation or to know how much I'll leave that up to you
hope you enjoy the light but watch the Beard
cheers Danny

 

[ESpy]

Nice work!

As an alternative to using a coin, could I suggest slitting a length of pipe & unrolling it? It might need annealing, but it is a nice easy source of sheet copper.

Even a 15mm pipe gives you almost 2" wide copper.

 

[Silverback]

Bleedin brilliant idea! Gonna set to and make me one of those - well done!

 

[Wayland]

Hi Wayland if you pm me your address I'll send you the unlit one in the photos.
1967 penny base, 28mm top cap
Price is a donation to Magikellys Karons marathon at :-
http://www.justgiving.com/runningforTeenageCancerTrust
I don't need confirmation or to know how much I'll leave that up to you
hope you enjoy the light but watch the Beard
cheers Danny

PM sent... :You_Rock_

I was just about to Pos Rep you but it looks like the Rep system is down.

I'll just have to send you some Positive Karma instead.